No long lines for primary school registration

The Ministry of Education has standardized the registration process for primary schools across the country. Annually, scores of parents reach out to the Ministry with concerns surrounding the registration process of first year students at primary schools. Parents have expressed that they are sometimes made to line up outside of schools as early as 4:00 am to receive a registration form. To quash this occurring in future the Ministry has developed standardized forms that will be used for registration at the nation’s schools. To ensure equal access to registration at all schools the forms will be made available at the schools, at the District Offices of the Ministry of Education and online via the Ministry’s website at www.moe.gov.tt

The Ministry of Education is focused on ensuring equity, access and quality in education and to this end all primary schools have been issued a Memorandum from the office of the Chief Education Officer indicating that all registration is to be halted immediately until the standardization process is completed.

The Memorandum states “Standardised application forms for admission to First Year are available at the school and at the respective Education District Offices during NORMAL working hours from February to March.All completed application forms must be submitted to the school for which the application has been made by 5th of April.The admission list should be posted on the Notice Board at the school and parents informed by 15th May each year. Principals must notify parents who are unsuccessful in securing a place for their children giving reason(s) for non-acceptance. There must be no interview process and/or examination as criteria for admittance to a primary school.”

Minister of Education Anthony Garcia stated that “This issue has been highlighted for far too long and it is high time that the Ministry take action. No parent should ever have to line up at such hours to be able to give their child access to a state funded education.”

Principals are being cautioned that the School Supervision and Management Division has been mandated to ensure compliance with these regulations and will be consistently engaged with the registration process at the primary schools.